Portable case for golf ball equipped with heat generating device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, which can maintain elasticity of the golf ball itself for improving the flight distance of the golf ball, and can keep a golfer player&#39;s body warm. The present invention has an accommodating zone being partitioned into a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space by a thin plate, the first accommodating space being adapted to receive a golf ball therein and a second accommodating space being adapted to receive a heat source therein so as to provide resilience to the golf ball.

This Application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0095202, filed Oct. 11, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, and more particularly, to a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device mounted therein integrally, so that a golf ball can maintain its flexibility and elasticity, and a player can be kept warm even during a round of golf in the cold of wintertime.

2. Background Art

In general, it is well known that during play, the distance a golf ball travels may differ according to the external environment and the temperature of a golf ball itself. Particularly, a decrease in temperature of a golf ball reduces its resilience, which leads to a reduction on its the flight distance when struck.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, in which resilience of the golf ball itself can be maintained even in the cold wintertime, thereby increasing the flight distance when hitting a tee-shot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, in which a golfer's body can be kept warm so as to be maintained in a good condition at all times.

In order to accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device, which comprises: a lid; a cylindrical body made of a metal material and opened at the top and bottom ends thereof, the cylindrical body having an accommodating zone defined therein, the accommodating zone being partitioned into a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space by a thin plate made of a metal material, the first accommodating space being adapted to receive a golf ball therein and a second accommodating space being adapted to receive a heat source therein so as to provide resilience to the golf ball, and having a plurality of vent holes formed on the outer circumferential wall of a lower portion thereof correspondingly to the second accommodating space for communicating with the second accommodating space; and a heat supply device detachably fit into the lower end of the cylindrical body, for supplying heat generated by combusting fuel by means of air introduced through the plurality of vent holes to the second accommodating space so as to allow the golf ball received in the first accommodating space to be maintained in its proper temperature.

Preferably, the thin plate may be formed in either a hemi-spherical or flat shape, and has a plurality of holes formed thereon.

The heat supply device includes: a first fuel storage tank formed of a unitary body structure and having an injecting port formed protrudingly on the top surface of an upper portion having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body, so that the first fuel storage tank is detachably fit into the bottom end of the cylindrical body to be fixed thereto, the first fuel storage tank having a fuel filling member built therein for filling liquid-phase fuel therein via the injecting port; a first flame cap formed of a cap-shaped structure opened at the top and bottom portion thereof and partially at a lateral side thereof, the first flame cap being detachably coupled to the upper portion of the injecting port of the first fuel storage tank so as to communicate with the inside of the first fuel storage tank and having a wick built therein for combusting the vaporized fuel which is generated from the fuel filled in the fuel filling member and is supplied thereto; and an extinguishing cap detachably coupled to the upper portion of the first flame cap for extinguishing the flame of the wick.

The first flame cap may further include a fixing frame for fixing the wick inside thereof.

Furthermore, the wick may be made of asbestos coated with platinum.

The heat supply device includes: a second fuel storage tank formed of a unitary body structure body hermetically sealed and having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body, so that the second fuel storage tank is detachably fit into the bottom end of the cylindrical body to be fixed thereto, the second fuel storage tank having a discharging valve mounted in the upper portion thereof for discharging the liquefied gas filled therein, and a liquefied gas filling valve mounted in the lower portion thereof; and a second flame cap having a plurality of through-holes formed thereon, and detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second fuel storage tank so that the discharging valve for discharging the combustion gas is pressurized to be opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a portable case for a golf ball according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1.;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the I-I line of the FIG. 1 except a lid shown in the FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view showing an operating state of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portable case for a golf ball according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the same direction as that of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the “A” part in the FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of a portable case for a golf ball according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the I-I line of the FIG. 1 except a lid shown in the FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a view showing an operating state of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, according to the present invention, a portable case 100 for a golf ball includes a cylindrical body 110 opened at the top and bottom ends thereof. The body 110 generally has a size sufficient for putting in the pocket of the clothes on which golfers put, and the outer circumference of the cylindrical body 110 is preferably enough to be gripped by the golfer's hand. Furthermore, preferably, the cylindrical body 110 is made of metal material or nonferrous metal material whose heat conductivity is good.

The portable case for golf ball 100 includes a lid 120 made of the same material with that of the cylindrical body 110 and disposed at the top end of the body 110 for opening and closing the top end of the body 110.

The cylindrical body 110 includes an accommodating zone 113 defined therein, which is divided into at least two spaces, that is, a first accommodating space 113 a for receiving a golf ball therein and a second accommodating space 113 b for receiving a heat source by partitionedly installing a thin plate 112 made of same material with that of the lid 120 or the body 110 inside the accommodating zone. (Reference FIG. 3.) The thin plate 112 is formed to have a diameter equal to or smaller than an inner diameter of the body 110 so as to forcibly fit into the body 110, and the circumferential edge portion of the thin plate 112 is integrally welded to the inner circumferential surface of the body 110. At this time, the thin plate 112 is preferably a lightweight material having a good heat conductivity, such as metal or aluminum. Also, the thin plate 112 is formed in a flat shape but preferably has a hemi-spherical shape similar to that of a golf ball 50 so as to transfer heat uniformly to the surface of a golf ball 50. In this embodiment, the thin plate 112 having the hemi-spherical shape has been illustrated. The thin plate 112 has a plurality of holes 114 formed thereon, so that the heat generated from a heat supply device 130, which will be described later, can be transferred to the golf ball 50 accommodated in a first accommodating space 113 a defined above the thin plate 112 through the plurality of holes 114. The number of holes 114 can be determined within the range that will not cause deterioration in the strength of the thin plate 112.

The portable case 100 further provides a heat supply device 130 detachably fit into the lower end of the cylindrical body so as to be positioned on the opposite side of the lid 120 of the body 110. The heat supply device 130 is aimed to transfer heat to the accommodating zone 113 of the body 11, so that the golf ball 50 seated on the thin plate 112 can be heated up to the temperature which allows the golf ball 50 to maintain the elasticity which provides flexibility to the golf ball itself, and can also transfer the heat to the body 110, thereby being able to keep warm a part of a player's body such as hands, or the inside of the pocket of a player's clothes.

That is, as shown in the FIG. 4, heat (60° C. to 70° C.) generated from the heat supply device 130 is passed through the second accommodating space 113 b and the first accommodating space 113 a of the body 110, so that the body 110 can be kept warm, and further the golf ball 50 seated on the thin plate 112 can be heat-insulated by the heated body 110, thereby being able to maintain the resilience which provides flexibility to the golf ball itself, and consequently thereby increasing the flight distance of the golf ball when hitting a tee shot into a fairway. Furthermore, since the heat inside of the body 110 is emitted to the outside of the body 110 through the body 110, while a golfer grasps the body 110, his or her hands may be kept warm, and thus this improves the accuracy of the tee-shot and helps to keep a golfer's condition good by preventing decrease in a hitting feeling of a player's hands when hitting a golf ball and preventing the sense of a golfer's hands from getting dull because of the icy temperature in a cold wintertime. The temperature transferred to the golfer is within a range between 30° C. to 35° C. considering the heat taken away by the outside air, and thus there is no danger of burns.

The heat supply device 130 performing the above operation, is detachably fit into the lower portion of the cylindrical body 110, and includes a first fuel storage tank 131. The lower portion of the body 110 has a plurality of holes 115 formed on the outer circumference thereof. The first fuel storage tank 131 is formed of a unitary body structure and has an injecting port 132 formed protrudingly on the top surface of an upper portion having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 110 so that the first fuel storage tank is detachably fit into the bottom end of the cylindrical body to be received in the second accommodating space 113 b. The first fuel storage tank 131 includes a fuel filling member 133 built therein, which is made of cotton fibers and the like, so that liquid-phase fuel (gasoline etc.,) is injected thereto via the injecting port 132. Furthermore, a first flame cap 134 is formed of a cap-shape structure and opened at the top and bottom portion thereof and partially at a lateral side thereof. The first flame cap 134 is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the injecting port 132 of the first fuel storage tank 131 so as to communicate with the inside of the first fuel storage tank and having a wick 135 built therein for combusting the vaporized fuel which is generated from the fuel filled in the fuel filling member 133 and is supplied thereto.

Moreover, the wick 135 is firmly fixed by means of a fixing frame 136 mounted inside the first flame cap 134, and is formed of an ignition material fabricated by immersing asbestos fibers in a solution of platinum chloride acid. The fuel supplied from the first fuel storage tank 131 is completely burnt without flame by platinum serving as a catalyst. Accordingly, although it is used in an extended period of time, there is no harmful to the human body. The combustion gas produced by the wick 135 is discharged to the outside through the plurality of vent holes 115 of the body 110 which communicate with the second accommodating space 113 b, and the outside air for promoting the combustion is also supplied into the second accommodating space 113 b through the vent holes 115.

The wick 135 performing the combustion operation as described above, is mounted at the injecting port 132 of the first fuel storage tank 131 in such manner as to be spaced apart at a certain distance from the fuel filling member 133 filled with fuel. The fuel stored in the first fuel storage tank 131 is vaporized by the heat emitted from the wick 135, and then supplied to the wick 135, so that the wick 135 is completely burnt. The heat generated by the wick 135 is transferred to the accommodating zone 113, thereby heating up the body 110 and the golf ball 50.

An extinguishment of the wick 135 is achieved by means of an extinguishing cap 138 detachably coupled to the first flame cap 134. In the extinguishment operation of the wick 135, the first fuel storage tank 131 is removed from the bottom end of the body 110, and then the wick 135 is extinguished by covering the extinguishing cap 138 over the first flame cap 134. On the contrary, in the ignition operation of the wick 35, after the first fuel storage tank 131 has been removed from the bottom end of the body 10, the extinguishing cap 138 is detached from the first flame cap 134 to ignite the wick, and then the first fuel storage tank 131 is fit again into the bottom end of the body 110. At this time, a user may keep the extinguishing cap 138 separately. Furthermore, since the flame will almost not be visible to the user, there is no troublesome due to the flame when the first fuel storage tank 131 is coupled to or de-coupled from the body 110.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portable case for a golf ball according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as seen from the same direction as that of FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a magnified view of the “A” part in the FIG.

The same parts as those in the above embodiment of the invention are denoted by the same reference numerals for the convenience sake of explanation. This embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, excepting a heat supply device 140. The heat supply device 140 includes a second fuel storage tank 141 detachably fit into the bottom end of the body. The second fuel storage tank 141 is formed of a unitary body structure body hermetically sealed and having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 110, and includes a discharging valve 142 mounted in the upper portion thereof for discharging the liquefied gas filled therein, and a liquefied gas filling valve 143 mounted in the lower portion thereof.

Moreover, a second flame cap 144 is detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second fuel storage tank 141. The size of the second flame cap 144 is the almost same as that of the upper portion of the second fuel storage tank 141, so that the second flame cap 144 can be forcibly fit around the second fuel storage tank 141 resiliently, thereby allowing the second flame cap 144 to be firmly coupled to the second fuel storage tank 141. When the second flame cap 144 is coupled to the upper portion of the second fuel storage tank 141, the discharging valve 142 formed in the second fuel storage tank 141 is pressurized by the second flame cap 144, so that the discharging valve 142 is immediately opened. At this time, gas filled in the second fuel storage tank 141 is emitted through the opened discharging valve 142. The second flame cap 144 includes a plurality of through-holes 145 formed thereon, through which the emitted gas is discharged to the second accommodating space 113 b. At this time, the wick is ignited to burn the discharged gas so as to generate heat, thereby achieving the same heat-insulation performance as that in the first embodiment of the present invention.

The ignition operation as described above is performed in a state where the second fuel storage tank 141 is removed from the bottom end of the body 110, and then the second fuel storage tank 141 is again inserted into the bottom end of the body 110. On the contrary, in the extinguishment operation, after the second fuel storage tank 141 has been removed from the bottom end of the body 110, the second flame cap 144 is de-coupled from the second fuel storage tank 141, so that the opened discharging valve 142 is return to its original position and automatically extinguished. Since other-configuration is the same as that of the above first embodiment, a detail description thereof will be omitted.

As described above, the present invention comprises a heat supply device which can heat up the inside of the case for accommodating a golf, so that elasticity of the golf ball itself can be maintained even in the cold wintertime, thereby improving the flight distance when hitting a tee-shot into a fairway. Also, a golfer player's body can be kept warm so as to be maintained in the best condition at all times in the wintertime.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 

1. A portable case for a golf ball equipped with a heat generating device comprising: a lid; a cylindrical body made of a metal material and opened at the top and bottom ends thereof, the cylindrical body having an accommodating zone defined therein, the accommodating zone being partitioned into a first accommodating space and a second accommodating space by a thin plate made of a metal material, the first accommodating space being adapted to receive a golf ball therein and a second accommodating space being adapted to receive a heat source therein so as to provide resilience to the golf ball, and having a plurality of vent holes formed on the outer circumferential wall of a lower portion thereof correspondingly to the second accommodating space for communicating with the second accommodating space; and a heat supply device detachably fit into the lower end of the cylindrical body, for supplying heat generated by combusting fuel by means of air introduced through the plurality of vent holes to the second accommodating space so as to allow the golf ball received in the first accommodating space to be maintained in its proper temperature.
 2. The portable case according to claim 1, wherein the thin plate is formed in either a hemi-spherical or flat shape and has a plurality of holes formed thereon.
 3. The portable case according to claim 1, wherein the heat supply device includes: a first fuel storage tank formed of a unitary body structure body and having an injecting port formed protrudingly on the top surface of an upper portion having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body, so that the first fuel storage tank is detachably fit into the bottom end of the cylindrical body to be fixed thereto, the first fuel storage tank having a fuel filling member built therein for filling liquid-phase fuel therein via the injecting port; a first flame cap formed of a cap-shaped structure opened at the top and bottom portion thereof and partially at a lateral side thereof, the first flame cap being detachably coupled to the upper portion of the injecting port of the first fuel storage tank so as to communicate with the inside of the first fuel storage tank and having a wick built therein for combusting the vaporized fuel which is generated from the fuel filled in the fuel filling member and is supplied thereto; and an extinguishing cap detachably coupled to the upper portion of the first flame cap for extinguishing the flame of the wick.
 4. The portable case according to claim 2, wherein the first flame cap further includes a fixing frame for fixing the wick therein.
 5. The portable case according to claim 1, wherein the wick is made of asbestos coated with platinum.
 6. The portable case according to claim 1, wherein the heat supply device includes: a second fuel storage tank formed of a unitary body structure body hermetically sealed and having an outer diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body, so that the second fuel storage tank is detachably fit into the bottom end of the cylindrical body to be fixed thereto, the second fuel storage tank having a discharging valve mounted in the upper portion thereof for discharging the liquefied gas filled therein, and a liquefied gas filling valve mounted in the lower portion thereof; and a second flame cap having a plurality of through-holes formed thereon, and detachably coupled to the upper portion of the second fuel storage tank so that the discharging valve for discharging the combustion gas is pressurized to be opened. 